ay.

He did not expect it to wear a look as frightened and hopeless as Katy's
did when he last saw it upon the pillow, for he knew how different the
two sisters were, and much as he had affected to despise Helen Lennox,
he was afraid of her now. It had never occurred to him before that he
was somewhat uncomfortable in her presence, that her searching brown
eyes held him often in check; but it came to him now that his wife's
sister was in his way, for what could he do with a will almost as firm
as his own, and she was sure to take Katy's part. He saw it in her face,
even though she had no idea of what he meant to say.

"Well;" that was the last sound heard in the quiet room; but since its
utterance the relative positions of the two individuals sitting opposite
each other had changed. Wilford regarding Helen as an obstacle in his
path, and Helen regarding him as a tyrant contemplating some direful
harm against her sister.

He must explain some time, and so at last he continued: "You must have
seen how opposed Katy is to complying with my wishes, setting them at
naught, when she knows how much pleasure she would give me by yielding
as she used to do."

"I don't know what you mean," Helen replied, "unless it is her aversion
to going out, as that I think is the only point where her obedience has
not been absolute."

Wilford did not like the words "obedience" and "absolute;" that is, he
did not like the sound. Their definition suited him, but Helen's
enunciation was at fault, and he answered quickly: "I do not require
absolute obedience from Katy. I never did; but in the matter to which
you refer, I think she might consult my wishes as well as her own. There
is no reason for her secluding herself in the nursery as she does. Do
you think there is?"

He put the question direct, and Helen answered it.

"I do not believe Katy means to displease you, but she has conceived a
strong aversion for festive scenes, and besides baby is not healthy, you
know, and like all young mothers she may be over-anxious, while I fancy
she has not the fullest confidence in the nurse, and this may account
for her unwillingness to leave the child with her."

Kirby was all that was desirable, Wilford replied. His mother had taken
her from a genteel, respectable house in Bond Street, and he paid her an
enormous price, consequently she must be right; and then there came out
the story how his mother had decided that neither Katy nor baby would
im